Reformation altarpiece [right wing]: The Confession (recto), The Sacrifice of Abraham (verso)
Title
Reformation altarpiece [right wing]: The Confession (recto), The Sacrifice of Abraham (verso)
[cda 2019]
Painting on hardwood
Medium
Painting on hardwood
[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]
The recto depicts a confession scene. It is Johannes Bugenhagen (1485-1558), minister of the parish church and Martin Luther's confessor, friend and close associate, who hears the confession of two men. Bugenhagen sits on a wooden stool, representatives from the Wittenberg community have gathered behind him - the men on
The recto depicts a confession scene. It is Johannes Bugenhagen (1485-1558), minister of the parish church and Martin Luther's confessor, friend and close associate, who hears the confession of two men. Bugenhagen sits on a wooden stool, representatives from the Wittenberg community have gathered behind him - the men on the right, the women on the left. He holds two keys in his hands as a symbol of the power bestowed on the church by Christ to bind or release. The image of Bugenhagen with the keys shows the minister of the parish church of Wittenberg as the legitimate successor of Christ's disciples. [...] As such he has the power to forgive or condemn sins. He stretches the key out towards the older man in a long fur-lined coat, kneeling devoutly with folded hands. The other man in a short, red coat with a magnificent sword at his side does not receive absolution.
The verso depicts the story of the sacrifice of Abraham against the backdrop of a landscape with a town and a mountain visible in the distance. The panel does not only illustrate the dramatic climax of the 'test of faith' in the Old Testament story, but also shows Abraham's journey with his son to Morija, where God commanded him to sacrifice his only son (1 Mose 22,1-19). Both can be seen at the right of the image, Isaac carries a bundle of kindle on his shoulders. The main scene shows Abraham placing his bound son on the sacrificial altar. An angel appears to stop him just as he is about to use his sword. The ram that was sacrificed instead is shown trapped in a bush in the foreground.
Lucas Cranach der Ältere Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop
Attributions
Lucas Cranach der Ältere
and Lucas Cranach the Younger and workshop
[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]
Lucas Cranach the Younger and Workshop
... and Lucas Cranach the Elder
[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]
Production date
1547 - 1548
Production date
1547 - 1548
[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 255 x 107.7 cm
Dimensions
Dimensions of support: 255 x 107.7 cm
Dimensions of the entire altarpiece: 447 x 562 cm
[Zdunczyk, in: Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 75]
Signature / Dating
None
Inscriptions and Labels
Recto:
the man on Melanchthon's left holds an open book, showing a verse from the St Mark's Gospel (Mk 16, …
Inscriptions and Labels
Inscriptions, Badges:
Recto:
the man on Melanchthon's left holds an open book, showing a verse from the St Mark's Gospel (Mk 16, 16). The text is written in both Latin (right) and German (left).
In 1928 the Pozzi frame was removed, the separated panels were reunited and a new frame was made. The following inscription was incorporated in a decorative element on the front of the frame 'Einen andern Grund kann niemand legen / außer dem, der gelegt ist, welcher ist / JESUS CHRISTUS'., and on the reverse of the frame the following inscription was added: 'Diese, von Lukas Cranach d. Ä. / gemalten Altarbilder wurden i. J. 1546 fertig / und i. J. 1928 neu gefaßt.' The new frame covered the paintied image to a small extent, e. g. the figure of a young woman listening to Luther preach.
Zdunczyk, in: [Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 96]
Date1811 - 1812
A new architectural frame was designed for the altarpiece in gothic style by Carlo Ignazio Pozzi (1766-1842) while renovstion work was been carried out in the church between 1811/12. At this time the back of the altarpiece was walled up.
Zdunczyk, in: [Harasimowicz, Seyderhelm 2015, 95]
Citing from the Cranach Digital Archive
Entry with author
<author's name>, 'Reformation altarpiece [right wing]: The Confession (recto), The Sacrifice of Abraham (verso)', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW001c/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})
Entry with no author
'Reformation altarpiece [right wing]: The Confession (recto), The Sacrifice of Abraham (verso)', <title of document, data entry or image>. [<Date of document, entry or image>], in: Cranach Digital Archive, https://lucascranach.org/en/DE_ESKStMW_NONE-ESKStMW001c/ (Accessed {{dateAccessed}})